Companion to Woven in Moonlight (I suggest reading Woven in Moonlight first)
Written in Starlight follows Catalina Quiroga, a condesa who doesn’t have a country. She is trying to get her throne back after being banished to the dangerous jungle. She has to learn how to survive on her own, however, she runs into an old acquaintance, Manuel. He helps her navigate through the treacherous jungle. In the jungle, the dangers they face aren’t just poisonous plants and predators, but also the Illari, who are trying to figure out why the forest is dying. Catalina has a gift that can help them solve their problems, she just has to learn how to use it.
Catalina and Manuel knew each other when they were children. It’s been years since they’ve seen each other. I really enjoyed getting to know more about their friendship in the past and seeing how their relationship develops in the present. As a main character, Catalina grows throughout the story as she learns more about herself and the world around her. It was nice getting to see Catalina change as she navigates the politics of her world and trying to figure out where she belongs.
The descriptions of the jungle were very vivid and kept me intrigued while I was reading. Some of the explanations of certain creatures were even fairly graphic and had me cringing. It made for a very immersive read! The pacing was also very well done, with the tone of the book shifting about halfway through that made me even more curious about how the plot was going to end!
The banter between Catalina and Manuel was very fun to read. I could’ve used even more of that, but I enjoyed what was there. I was very invested in their story. I was certainly rooting for them as Catalina had to choose between duty and her own heart. Overall, this was a great adventurous read with magic, romance and friendships!
If you’re looking for a fun, fast-paced story, I would recommend this one! Though I would say that reading Woven in Moonlight first would be a good choice. Happy reading!